Rail-joint.



J. J. LYNCH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 18, 1912. 1 ,O54=,429. Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

FIG.1 m m WITNESSES TTTTTTT YB UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. LYNCH, OF MoKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. Lynonya citizen of the United States ofAmerica, 1'esiding at McKees Rocks, in the county of Allegheny and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rail joints, and the primary object of myinvention is to obviate the necessity of using bolts and nuts as afastening means for connecting splice bars or fish plates to the sidesof rails to connect said rails and maintain the same in longitudinalalinement.

Another object of this invention is to providesimple and effective meansfor connecting splice bars to the base flanges of rails whereby therails cannot become accidentally displaced.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rail joint that isdurable, easy to install, and highly efficient as a connection betweenthe abutting or confronting ends of rails.

WVith the above and other objects in View the invention resides in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to behereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the rail joint partly broken away and partly in section,Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the same, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional viewtaken on the line III-III of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a similar view takenon the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Further describing my invention in detail' with reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein like numerals denote corresponding partsthroughout: 1 denotes the abutting or confronting ends of rails thathave the base flanges 2 thereof provided with L-shaped slots 3, the longarms 4 of said slots extending longitudinally of the base flanges, andthe outer wall of each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 18, 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Serial No. 737,445.

slot has :1 depending tapering or beveled enlargement 5, the object ofwhich will presently appear.

6 denotes splice bars for engaging and bracing the outer sides of therails l and these splice bars are provided with depending tongues 7having transversely disposed heads 8. The tongues 7 are adapted toextend through transverse portions of the slots 3 and by shifting saidsplice bars, the heads 8 of said tongues riding under the enlargements5, the taper or bevel of said enlargements drawing the splice bars 6into snug engagement with the rails.

The outer edges of the splice bars are enlarged, as at 9 whereby spikesor other fastening means can be resorted to for securing the splice barsand rails to ties, sleepers or other supports after said splice barshave been adjusted to firmly hold and lock the rails together.

One embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, but it is to beunderstood that the structural elements are susceptible to suchvariations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaim.

lVhatI claim is In a rail joint, the combination of rails having thebase flanges thereof provided with L-shaped slots with the long arms ofsaid slots extending longitudinally of said rails and the outer walls ofsaid slots provided with depending tapering enlarge- 'ments, splice barsbracing the sides of said rails, depending tongues carried by saidsplice bars and extending into the L-shaped slots of said rails, andtransverse heads carried by said tongues and adapted to be shifted intoengagement with the. enlarge ments of the base flanges of said railswhereby said splice bars are held in snug engagement with said rails.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN J. LYNCH.

Witnesses Max H. SRoL0vrrz, KATHERINE ERRETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

